assembly of the pct union

Don’t miss out on our upcoming PCT Seminars, Webinars, and other PCT-related events – consult the PCT Seminar Calendar in this issue!

1

www.wipo.int/pct/en October 2021 | No. 10/2021

Assembly of the PCT Union The 53rd session of the Assembly of the PCT Union (PCT Assembly) was held in Geneva during the period from 4 to 8 October 2021, as part of the meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO.

The Assembly adopted amendments to the PCT Regulations, as set out in the annexes to document PCT/A/53/3. The amendments consist of the following:

– PCT Rules 5, 12, 13ter, 19 and 49: Implementing WIPO Standard ST.26“Recommended Standard for the Presentation of Nucleotide and Amino Acid SequenceListings using XML (eXtensible Markup Language)” in the PCT. These amendmentswill enter into force on 1 July 2022 and will apply to any international application with aninternational filing date on or after that date. For further information, please refer todocument PCT/WG/13/8 and paragraphs 4 and 5 of document PCT/WG/13/14, and“Implementation Date of WIPO Standard ST.26”, below.

– PCT Rule 82quater: Strengthening safeguards for applicants and third parties in caseof general disruption that affect meeting time limits under the Regulations. For furtherinformation, please refer to document PCT/WG/14/11 and paragraphs 8 to 14 ofdocument PCT/WG/14/18. These amendments will also enter into force on 1 July 2022and apply to any time limit that expires on or after that date.

The Assembly appointed the Eurasian Patent Office as an International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authority under the PCT (document PCT/A/53/1). The appointment will become effective from a future date to be notified by the Office when it is ready to begin operations.

The Assembly noted a report on the Supplementary International Search system (document PCT/A/53/2) and invited the International Bureau (IB) to continue to monitor the system and report to the Meeting of International Authorities and the PCT Working Group on significant developments. The Assembly also invited the IB to review the system again at a time to be recommended by the IB, or on request by a Contracting State, but no later than 2027.

The documents referred to above are available from the WIPO website as follows:

PCT Assembly documents (including the report once it becomes available):

https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_code=pct/a/53

PCT NEWSLETTER | October 2021 | No. 10/2021

2

WIPO General Assembly document (including the report once it becomes available):

https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_code=wo/ga/54

PCT Working Group documents:

https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_code=pct/wg/13 (13th session)

https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_code=pct/wg/14 (14th session)

Implementation Date of WIPO Standard ST.26 The 54th session of the WIPO General Assembly approved the implementation date of WIPO Standard ST.26 “Recommended Standard for the Presentation of Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequence Listings using XML (eXtensible Markup Language)” at national, regional and international levels of 1 July 2022 − please refer to document WO/GA/54/14 at:

https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/govbody/en/wo_ga_54/wo_ga_54_14.pdf

and paragraph 45 of document A/62/12 at:

https://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/assemblies/2021/a_62/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=552851

The transition to WIPO Standard ST.26 will therefore take place six months after the date previously decided by the Committee of WIPO Standards at its fifth session in 2017 − (please refer to paragraphs 42 to 44 of document CWS/5/22 at:

https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/cws/en/cws_5/cws_5_22.pdf

Where previous editions of the PCT Newsletter have referred to 1 January 2022 as the date from which WIPO Standard ST.26 will apply1, this date should now read 1 July 2022.

Electronic Filing and Processing of International Applications

Djibouti and Samoa: Office of Industrial Property and Commerce of Djibouti (ODPIC) and Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) (Samoa) to begin receiving and processing international applications in electronic form

The Office of Industrial Property and Commerce of Djibouti (ODPIC) and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) (Samoa), in their capacities as receiving Offices, have notified the International Bureau (IB) under PCT Rule 89bis.1(d) that they will be prepared to receive and process international applications in electronic form with effect from 3 January 2022 and 31 January 2022, respectively.

The Offices will accept international applications filed using ePCT-Filing, and the applicable electronic filing fee reductions listed in item 4 of the Schedule of Fees are indicated in Fee Table I(a).

1 The following issues of the PCT Newsletter indicated 1 January 2022 as the date from which WIPO Standard ST.26 will apply: No. 06/2019 (page 3), No. 10/2020 (page 1), No. 12/2020 (page 8) and No. 04/2021 (page 7).


3

The notifications containing the requirements and practices of those Offices with regard to the filing of international applications in electronic form were published in the Official Notices (PCT Gazette) on 14 October 2021 at:

https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/official_notices/index.html

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (DJ and WS))

New Landing Page for the Payment of PCT Fees It is recalled that on 14 June 2021, WIPO introduced a new payment platform for the online payment of certain PCT-related fees and other fees payable to WIPO (please refer to PCT Newsletter No. 06/2021). For the convenience of users, a new landing page, “WIPO Pay”, is now available at:

https://www3.wipo.int/epayweb/public/index.xhtml

You can also access WIPO Pay via a link on the main PCT System page, under “PCT Resources”, at: https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/ and on the right-hand side of the “Fees and Payments – PCT System” page at: https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/fees.

WIPO Pay is a streamlined system allowing you to make payments and view your pending payments with one click, including the possibility to pay several transactions at once. It is secure and encrypted, and payments are processed quickly and confirmed by e-mail.

Further information on payment methods at WIPO is available at:

https://www3.wipo.int/epayweb/public/payment-methods.xhtml

WIPO 2021 PCT User Survey In order to regularly assess customer satisfaction with all aspects of the PCT, WIPO will shortly be conducting its biennial survey of the user community. The input received from PCT users of the PCT services provided by the International Bureau is extremely valuable to us. We encourage you to take the time to provide us with your feedback by participating in the survey, which will take approximately 10 to 20 minutes to complete. To participate, please send an e-mail with the title “Participation in the 2021 PCT User Survey” to:

[email protected]

and you will receive a link to the survey as soon as it has been launched.

Exceptional Non-working Days

Canadian Intellectual Property Office

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has notified the International Bureau that it was not open to the public for the transaction of official business on 30 September 2021, due to the designation of that day as a new federal statutory holiday.

This information updates the list of closed dates, as furnished to the IB by Offices, which is available at:

https://www.wipo.int/pct/dc/closeddates/


4

It is recalled that, pursuant to PCT Rule 80.5, if the expiration of any period during which any document or fee in connection with an international application was required to reach an Office fell on a closed date, that period is extended so as to expire on the next subsequent day on which the Office reopened to the public for the purposes of the transaction of official business.

PCT Information Update

CN China (fees)

Equivalent amounts of the international filing fee and the fee per sheet over 30 payable to the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) have been established in CNY with effect from 1 December 2021. The amounts in CNY of those fees that will be payable from that date, as well as the amounts in CNY of the applicable filing fee reductions listed in item 4 of the Schedule of Fees, are indicated in Fee Table I(a).

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (CN))

DJ Djibouti (e-mail address; electronic filing)

The e-mail address of the Office of Industrial Property and Commerce of Djibouti (ODPIC) has changed, as follows:

E-mail: [email protected]

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B1 (DJ))

For information on the acceptance, with effect from 3 January 2022, by the Office as receiving Office of international applications filed using ePCT-Filing, as well as information on the electronic filing fee reductions listed in item 4 of the Schedule of Fees that will be applicable, please refer to “Electronic Filing and Processing of International Applications”, above.

DO Dominican Republic (special requirements for entry into the national phase)

The National Office of Industrial Property (Dominican Republic) as designated (or elected) Office has changed one of its special requirements under PCT Rule 51bis for entry into the national phase – where applicable, the Office now requires the furnishing of a nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence listing on paper and in electronic form.

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, National Chapter, Summary (DO))

GM Gambia (types of protection; fees)

National protection by way of utility models is now available in the Gambia via the PCT – applicants now have the choice of utility models or patents.

Furthermore, the Registrar General’s Department, Ministry of Justice (Gambia) has notified the International Bureau (IB) of a national filing fee for utility models, payable to it as designated (or elected) Office. The amount of this fee is GMD 2,500 or, for applicants who are not residents of the Gambia, USD 200.

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B1 (GM) and the National Chapter, Summary (GM), as well as the table of “Types of Protection Available via the PCT in PCT Contracting States”)


5

LR Liberia (types of protection; who can act as agent; applicable criteria for requests for restoration of the right of priority; fees)

National protection by way of utility models is now available in Liberia via the PCT – applicants now have the choice of utility models or patents.

There has been a change concerning who can act as agent before the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) in its capacity as designated (or elected) Office – any attorney certified by the Office and registered by the Legal Bar Association or any IP agent certified by the Office may now act as agent.

The Office has notified the IB that, in its capacity as designated (or elected) Office, it applies both the “unintentional” and the “due care” criteria to requests for restoration of the right of priority under PCT Rule 49ter.2.

Furthermore, the Office has notified the IB of a change in the currency and amount of the national filing fee, payable to it as designated (or elected) Office. The amount of this fee is now USD 400.

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B1 (LR), National Chapter, Summary (LR) as well as the table of “Types of Protection Available via the PCT in PCT Contracting States”)

ME Montenegro (name of Office)

The name of the Ministry of Economy, Department for Intellectual Property (Montenegro) has changed, as follows:

Name of Office: Ministry of Economic Development, Department for Intellectual Property (Montenegro)

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B1 (ME))

PA Panama (e-mail addresses)

The Directorate General of the Industrial Property Registry (DIGERPI) (Panama) has notified the IB of an additional e-mail address. The e-mail addresses to be used are now as follows:

E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B1 (PA))

PL Poland (location; e-mail and Internet addresses)

The location and the e-mail and Internet addresses of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland have changed, as follows:

Location: Al. Niepodleglości 188/192 PL-00-950 Warszawa Poland

E-mail: [email protected]

Internet: https://www.uprp.gov.pl

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B1 (PL))


6

TN Tunisia (summary of requirements for entry into the national phase)

Information on the requirements of the National Institute for Standardization and Industrial Property (INNORPI) (Tunisia) as designated (or elected) Office has been published in the PCT Applicant’s Guide, National Chapter, Summary (TN), at:

https://www.wipo.int/pct/guide/en/gdvol2/annexes/tn.pdf

WS Samoa (electronic filing)

For information on the acceptance, with effect from 31 January 2022, by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) (Samoa) as receiving Office of international applications filed using ePCT-Filing, as well as information on the electronic filing fee reductions listed in item 4 of the Schedule of Fees that will be applicable, please refer to “Electronic Filing and Processing of International Applications”, above.

Search fee (Korean Intellectual Property Office)

As from 1 December 2021, there will be a change in the equivalent amounts payable in NZD for an international search carried out in Korean or in English by the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The new amounts will be NZD 538 for international applications in Korean, and NZD 1,435 for international applications in English.

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex D (KR))

Handling fee (China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA))

An equivalent amount of the handling fee payable to CNIPA (for the benefit of the International Bureau) has been established in CNY with effect from 1 December 2021. The amount will be CNY 1,390.

(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex E (CN))

WIPO Fee Transfer Service It is recalled that, since 1 July 2020, any receiving Office, International Searching Authority, Authority specified for supplementary international search or International Preliminary Examining Authority may participate in the WIPO Fee Transfer Service as a “participating Office”, in which PCT fees are exchanged from one Office (the “collecting Office”) to another (the “beneficiary Office”) via the International Bureau (IB). For further information, please refer to PCT/WG/12/20 at: https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=436911.

The IB has published updated information in the Official Notices (PCT Gazette) of 7 October 2021 on the Offices that have notified the IB of their participation, or of a change in the scope of their participation, in the WIPO Fee Transfer Service at:

https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/official_notices/index.html


7

New/Updated PCT Resources

New webinar recordings

Webinar in Chinese

A recording of the following webinar in Chinese:

– Exploring the PCT webinar series: How to best utilize declarations

as well as the PDF version of the presentation (which took place on 22 September 2021), can be accessed at:

https://www.wipo.int/pct/zh/seminar/webinars/index.html

Webinars in English

Recordings of the following webinars in English:

– Everything you need to know about ePCT webinar series: eHandshakes-AccessRights-eOwnership (8 September 2021)

– Exploring the PCT webinar series: Mastering priority claims in PCT applications(23 September 2021)

– Everything you need to know about ePCT webinar series: ePCT-Filing in Docx(5 October 2021)

as well as the PDF version of each presentation (which took place on the dates indicated above), can be accessed at:

https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/seminar/webinars/index.html

Webinars in Portuguese

Recordings of the following webinars in Portuguese:

– Exploring the PCT webinar series: Understanding PCT incorporation by reference(24 September 2021)

– Exploring the PCT webinar series: How to best utilize declarations (1 October 2021)

as well as the PDF version of each presentation (which took place on the dates indicated above), can be accessed at:

https://www.wipo.int/pct/pt/seminar/webinars/index.html

Webinar in Russian

A recording of the following webinar in Russian:

– WIPO Standard ST.26: Introduction


https://www.wipo.int/pct/ru/seminar/webinars/index.html


8

Webinar in Spanish

A recording of the following webinar in Spanish:

– Exploring the PCT webinar series: How to best utilize declarations


https://www.wipo.int/pct/es/seminar/webinars/index.html

PATENTSCOPE News

New in PATENTSCOPE: weekly tips and tricks videos

The weekly tips and tricks videos show how to use specific features of PATENTSCOPE to their full potential. A new short video is released every week on Tuesday at:

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/help/tipsAndTricks.jsf

The first videos that have been posted are on the following subjects:

– how to use the weighting factor in PATENTSCOPE;

– licensing information;

– WIPO Translate;

– statistical information; and

– how to customize statistical information.

Users can e-mail the PATENTSCOPE team to request a video demonstration of a specific feature at: [email protected]

Markush search now available in PATENTSCOPE

Markush structures are representations of chemical structures with variable substituents that are used in patent documents to specify groups of related chemical compounds, often in order to claim them as part of the scope of a filed patent application (also referred to as Markush claims).

Markush definitions are now being indexed for the first time in PATENTSCOPE. It is therefore possible to search chemical compounds in patent documents by the name (for example, commercial name, IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) name or INN (International Nonproprietary Name)), structure in a drawing, or when they fall within a Markush definition. Markush searches are available in PATENTSCOPE free of charge for logged-in users – a WIPO account can be created from the Login menu in the top black navigation bar (https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/search.jsf). The implementation of the Markush search feature in PATENTSCOPE makes such a search feature accessible to all users worldwide for the first time.

For further information, please refer to:

https://www.wipo.int/patentscope/en/news/pctdb/2021/news_0006.html


9

PATENTSCOPE contributes patent documents relating to green technologies to a fully rebuilt WIPO GREEN

It is recalled that the WIPO GREEN database is a free, solutions-oriented, global innovation catalogue that connects needs for solving problems relating to climate change, food security and the environment with sustainable solutions. WIPO GREEN has been fully rebuilt with new features such as unique AI-assisted search functions, auto-matching, and advanced user upload tracking and statistics, and relevant green technologies have been imported from the PATENTSCOPE database. Upload to the database is free and open to all relevant innovations and needs.

Further information is available at:

https://wipogreen.wipo.int/wipogreen-database/database

EPO: Change Affecting the Payment of Fees

New daily limit for credit card payments

It is recalled that the European Patent Office (EPO) started accepting payments of fees, including PCT-related fees, by credit card (in addition to via deposit account and by bank transfer) on 1 December 20172. With effect from 1 October 2021, the EPO has introduced a new daily limit for credit card payments of EUR 10,000 per credit card and per user account.

For further information on the requirements and arrangements for this method of fee payment, please refer to the “Notice from the European Patent Office dated 23 September 2021 concerning the payment of fees by credit card” at:

https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/official-journal/2021/09/a73.html

Global Innovation Index The 2021 edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII) is now available at:

https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2021/

This edition of the GII presents the latest global innovation ranking of 132 economies, relying on 81 different indicators. While tracking the most recent global innovation trends in the new Global Innovation Tracker, it also focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on innovation.

A summary of the findings of the new edition of the GII was published in Press Release PR/2021/880, at:

https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2021/article_0008.html

2 Please refer to PCT Newsletter No. 12/2017 and Official Journal EPO 2017, A72 and A73 (https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/official-journal/2017/09/2017-09.pdf)


10

Launch of WIPO IP Diagnostics As part of WIPO’s on-going effort to strengthen its program of support for the business sector, WIPO will launch, in collaboration with the International Trade Center (ITC) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), its newest online resource, WIPO IP Diagnostics, at a virtual event to be held on 9 November 2021 at 13:30 (CET).

WIPO IP Diagnostics is a free, comprehensive self-assessment tool designed to help small businesses identify their IP assets and determine how to protect, manage and leverage these assets to unlock new commercial opportunities. It is a useful tool for small businesses to become acquainted with the practical advantages of the IP system. It can also function as a useful resource for business intermediaries, including IP offices, who may rely on it to complement their IP advisory services for businesses. Further information is available at:

https://www.wipo.int/ipdiagnostic/

The program will include a presentation of the tool, reflections on it by some member states as well as the launch of an initiative with ICC Center of Entrepreneurship for using the tool for building business capacity, which is part of a broader initiative by WIPO to partner with Governments, intergovernmental organizations and national associations to make the tool available to beneficiaries.

The program for the event, as well as information on registration, is available at:

https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=65728

Registration requires entry of the following secure code: KBT543EDS8

Interpretation will be available in English, French and Spanish.

Practical Advice

Filing strategies: factors to consider when deciding which International Searching Authority to choose where more than one Authority is competent

Q: I am the sole applicant in an international application that I am going to file with a receiving Office for which there are several competent International Searching Authorities. What are the main factors that I should take into account when deciding which Authority to select?

A: Each receiving Office specifies one or more International Searching Authorities (ISAs) and International Preliminary Examining Authorities (IPEAs) as competent to carry out international searches and international preliminary examination, respectively, on international applications filed with it (PCT Rule 35). Where several ISAs/IPEAs are competent, you may choose between them (subject to any restrictions that will be discussed below). For the sake of simplicity, we will refer only to ISAs and the international search procedure in this practical advice, and not to IPEAs and the international preliminary examination procedure.

Please also note that if you file the international application with the International Bureau as receiving Office (RO/IB), your choice of competent ISA would be the same as you would normally have when filing with the national Office of the Contracting State of which you (or if there is more than one applicant, one of the applicants) are a resident or national, or the national Office or intergovernmental organization acting for that Contracting State (PCT Rule 35.3).


11

You can find out which ISA (or ISAs) are competent for each receiving Office in Annex C of the PCT Applicant’s Guide. Where two or more International Searching Authorities (ISAs) are competent to carry out the international search, you must indicate the Authority chosen in Box No. VII of the request form at the time of filing.

The main points to consider before making this choice are outlined below.

Different ISAs may be available depending on the receiving Office used: where the Contracting State of which you are a resident is different from the one of which you are a national, you may have a wider choice of receiving Offices with which to file the international application. As each receiving Office specifies its own competent ISAs, you should carefully consider the available ISAs when selecting the receiving Office with which to file your international application. And if in the future you have multiple applicants in an application with differing nationalities and residences, and file with RO/IB, you may have more competent ISAs to choose from since the choice will be the composite of all of the ISAs which would have been competent for any of the national or regional receiving Office which you could have used.

Languages accepted for international search: your choice of ISA should consider the language or languages accepted by the ISA or ISAs that are competent to carry out the search on your international application. You should preferably choose an ISA that accepts the language in which you are filing your international application if you want to avoid having to translate your international application specifically for the purposes of international search (PCT Rule 12.3). The language or languages accepted by each ISA are shown in Annex D of the PCT Applicant’s Guide.

Search fee (and other related fees) charged by the ISA: an important consideration for you may be the cost of having an international search carried out by a particular ISA. Search fees and related fees are fixed by the ISA concerned, and can vary considerably. Furthermore, some ISAs offer reductions in the search fee in certain situations based on their practices as national or regional Offices (in particular, for small- and medium-sized entities or for applicants from low- or middle-income economies), and some fees payable in the national/regional phase are reduced where a particular ISA has carried out the international search. Information on the search fees and any reductions in the search fee, where applicable, can be found in Annex D of the PCT Applicant’s Guide, and information on any available reductions in the national fees can be found, where applicable, in the corresponding National Chapter of the PCT Applicant’s Guide.

Quality of the international search and timeliness of issuance of the international search reports (ISRs) and written opinions: you may wish to consider the reputation of the ISA, its compliance with Chapter 21 of the PCT International Search and Preliminary Examination Guidelines (“Common Quality Framework for International Search and Preliminary Examination”), and its reliability in terms of timeliness in the issuance of their reports. Useful resources that you may wish to consult for information on this are:

– the PCT International Authority Quality Reports at:https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/quality/authorities.html, and

– the timeliness statistics reproduced in the PCT Yearly Review − the latest edition isavailable at: https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_901_2021.pdf (statisticson timeliness in transmitting ISRs to the IB can be found on pages 84 and 85).

Subject matter that will not be searched by the ISA: in accordance with PCT Rule 39, ISAs are not required to search an international application if its subject matter is listed in items (i) to (vi)


12

of that Rule. If your international application relates to any of those subject matters, you may wish to choose an ISA which has indicated that it will search the subject matter of your application. Further information is available, for each ISA, in the PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex D.

Whether or not to have a search carried out by an ISA that is different from the Office which searched the earlier national filing: if you are claiming priority of an earlier application (whether it be a national, regional or international application), and the Office that searched the earlier application is also a competent ISA, you may wish to select the same Office as ISA if this may result in receiving the search results more quickly, or in order to benefit from any possible fee reductions. Also, in some cases, it may be possible to make use of the so-called PCT Direct service before certain Offices (currently, this is available at the European Patent Office, the Finnish Patent and Registration Office, the Israel Patent Office and the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office), whereby an applicant filing an international application with an Office offering the PCT Direct Service which claims priority from an earlier application already searched by that Office, may submit informal comments to respond to any objections raised in the search report and written opinion drawn up in relation to the priority application.

Alternatively, you may prefer to have the search carried out by another ISA for a different perspective on the international search, for example, selecting an ISA based on the language expertise of the search examiners or particular document collections that an ISA may search beyond the PCT minimum documentation.

Limitations on the selection of the IPEA: given that some IPEAs will carry out an international preliminary examination only on an application for which they, or another specified ISA, carried out the international search, this may affect your choice of ISA if you are likely to want to request a particular IPEA to carry out the international preliminary examination.

Consideration of prior art: if you are going to seek patent protection only in a specific country or region, it may be useful, where possible, to choose an ISA that would search prior art that is particularly relevant to that region. For example, if protection is sought in the Republic of Korea, it may be useful to choose ISA/KR (if possible) as that Office may find relevant prior art in Korean, which may not be accessible to other ISAs for language reasons. Please also bear in mind that if you enter the national phase at the same Office that produced a positive ISR when it acted as the ISA on your international application, it may be quicker to obtain positive results before that Office upon national examination.

Limitations of international searches by some ISAs: some ISAs have limited the number of international applications that they will search where the international application has been filed with certain receiving Offices. For example the Australian Patent Office and the Israel Patent Office, in their capacities as ISAs, have limited the number of international applications that they will search where the application was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as receiving Office. Any such restrictions are indicated in the PCT Applicant’s Guide (please refer to the part of Annex C relating to the competent receiving Office concerned).

Ability to make use of the Patent Prosecution Highway: if you wish to request accelerated examination of your application in the national phase by requesting one or more national Offices to accelerate the processing of your application using the PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway (PCT-PPH) work-sharing scheme, you should check which national (or regional) Offices have PCT-PPH agreements with the competent ISAs concerned. For further information on bilateral or plurilateral agreements, please consult the PCT-PPH Program page at:

https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/filing/pct_pph.html


13

and refer to the “Practical Advice” in PCT Newsletter No. 09/2021 at:

https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pctndocs/en/2021/pct_news_2021_9.pdf

Whether an ISA also offers supplementary international search (SIS): it is recalled that you can, at any point in the international phase, and subject to extra fees (the supplementary search fee and the supplementary search handling fee), request an SIS by any of the 10 Authorities specified for supplementary search (SISA) that currently offer this service. Your choice of SISA does not depend on the receiving Office with which you file the international application, but the SISA must be different from the Authority that has performed the international search. If you are planning to request SIS, this could influence your choice of ISA to carry out your international search, as you would not be able to choose the same ISA as the SISA.


14

PCT Seminar Calendar (https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/seminar/seminar.pdf)

(situation on 25 October 2021) Dates and location

Language of seminar

Nature of seminar; WIPO speakers (and others where known)

Organizer and contact numbers

28 and 29 October 2021 8:30-12:00 (Eastern time) Online presentation

English Presentation on the PCT WIPO speakers: Mr. Reischle-Park and Ms. Kang

Boston Patent Law Association E-mail: [email protected]

[email protected] Internet: https://www.bpla.org

24 - 26 November 2021 Bad Nauheim (DE)

German PCT presentation on the latest developments in the PCT within the framework of the 11th PAFA-Tagung conference WIPO speaker: Mr. Reischle-Park Other WIPO speakers on other IP topics: Ms. Weiss and other speaker to be announced

Intellectual Property for Intellectual People (IP for IP) GmbH (Ms. Monika Huppertz) Tel: (49-0) 6201 844 37 30 Fax: (49-0) 6201 98 62 10 E-mail: [email protected]: https://www.ipforip.com

30 November 2021 Brussels (BE) (note that only a limited number of places are available)

French PCT seminar within the framework of the basic CEIPI course WIPO speaker: to be announced

Centre d’études internationales de la propriété industrielle (CEIPI), International Section (Mr. Thierry Debled) E-mail: [email protected]

PCT Webinars (https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/seminar/webinars/index.html)

Date and time Language of webinar

Nature of webinar; WIPO speakers

Registration

2 November 2021 09:00 – 10:30 (CET)

English ePCT actions (for Australia, Asia and Europe time zones) WIPO speakers: Ms. Lee and Ms. Mo

https://wipo-int.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_EaHhde0VRuSH__gKdx-1eQ

3 November 2021 10:00 – 11:00 (CET)

French Exploring the PCT webinar series: How to best utilize PCT declarations WIPO speakers: Ms. Schumm and Ms. Gateau

Further information: https://www.wipo.int/pct/fr/news/2021/news_0045.html Registration: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8203624898254725388

4 November 2021 16:30 – 18:00 (CET)

English ePCT actions (for North and South America time zones) WIPO speakers: Ms. Lee and Ms. Mo

https://wipo-int.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_cbpocP3tS9yXI4en6U4hoA

15 November 2021 09:00 – 10:45 (CET)

Russian Roving Webinar on WIPO Services and Initiatives WIPO speakers: Mr. Spitsyn, Mr. Gribkov, Mr. Azimov, Mr. Dimitrov, Ms. Ghetu, Ms. Gobechia, and Ms. Krysanova. Other speakers: Mr. Zhuravlev (Rospatent) and Mr. Gulyaeva (Hogan Lovells), Moscow

https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=65469


15

WIPO Standards Webinars (https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/topic.jsp?group_id=330)


Nature of webinar; Speakers

Registration

28 October 2021 08:00 - 09:30 (CEST)

Chinese WIPO ST. 26: Advanced CNIPA Speaker: Ms. Lijing

Pre-recorded session: the recording will be available at: https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=65869

Other WIPO Events


Nature of webinar; Speakers

Registration

9 November 2021 13:30 – 15:15 (CET)

English/ French/ Spanish

WIPO IP Diagnostics Going Global, co-organized by WIPO, the International Trade Center and the International Chamber of Commerce WIPO speakers: Mr. Aleman, Mr. Pessach and Ms. Nanayakkara Other speakers: please refer to the provisional program at: https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=65728

https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=65728 Secure code for registration: KBT543EDS8


16

PCT Fee Tables(amounts on 1 October 2021, unless otherwise indicated)

The following Tables show the amounts and currencies of the main PCT fees which are payable to the receiving Offices (ROs) and the International Preliminary Examining Authorities (IPEAs) during the international phase under Chapter I (Tables I(a) and I(b)) and under Chapter II (Table II). Fees which are payable only in particular circumstances are not shown; nor are details of certain reductions and refunds which may be available; such information can be found in the PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annexes C, D and E. Note that all amounts are subject to change due to variations in the fees themselves or fluctuations in exchange rates. The international filing fee may be reduced by CHF 100, 200 or 300 where the international application, or part of the international application, is filed in electronic form, as prescribed under Item 4(a), (b) and (c) of the Schedule of Fees (annexed to the Regulations under the PCT) and the PCT Applicant’s Guide, paragraph 5.189. A 90% reduction in the international filing fee (including the fee per sheet over 30), the supplementary search handling fee and the handling fee, as well as an exemption from the transmittal fee payable to the International Bureau as receiving Office, is also available to applicants from certain States—refer to footnotes 2 and 14. (Note that if the CHF 100, 200 or 300 reduction, as the case may be, and the 90% reduction are applicable, the 90% reduction is calculated after the CHF 100, 200 or 300 reduction.) The footnotes to the Fee Tables follow Table II. Key to abbreviations used in fee tables: eq IA

equivalent of – BND Brunei dollar international application BRL Brazilian real

HRK Croatian kuna HUF Hungarian forint

IPEA International Preliminary IDR Indonesian rupiah Examining Authority

BYN Belarusian rouble BZD Belize dollar ILS New Israeli sheqel

ISA International Searching CAD Canadian dollar INR Indian rupee Authority IRR Iranian rial

ISR international search ISK Icelandic krona report

RO receiving Office

TJS Tajik somoni TND Tunisian dinar TRY Turkish lira

TTD

Trinidad and Tobagodollar

UAH Ukrainian hryvnia UGX Uganda

shilling

USDUSD US dUS d llollar UZS Uzbek sum VND Vietnamese dong XAF CFA franc BEAC XCD East Caribbean dollar ZAR South African rand ZWD Zimbabwe dollar

Currencies: ALL Albanian lek AMD Armenian dram AUD Australian dollar AZN Azerbaijani manat BAM Convertible mark BGN Bulgarian lev BHD Bahraini dinar

CHF Swiss franc CLP Chilean peso CNY Yuan renminbi COP Colombian peso CUP Cuban peso CZK Czech koruna DJF Djibouti franc DKK Danish krone DZD Algerian dinar EGP Egyptian pound EUR Euro GBP Pound sterling GHS Ghanaian cedi

JOD Jordanian dinar JPY Japanese yen KES Kenyan shilling KHR Cambodian riel KPW Won (KP) KRW Won (KR) KZT Kazakh tenge LSL Lesotho loti LYD Libyan dinar MAD Moroccan dirham MKD Macedonian denar

MWK Malawian kwacha MYR Malaysian ringgit NOK Norwegian krone NZD New Zealand dollar OMR Omani rial PEN Nuevo sol PGK Kina PHP Philippine peso PLN Polish zloty QAR Qatari riyal RON New leu RSD Serbian dinar RUB Russian rouble SAT Samoan tala SDG Sudanese pound SEK Swedish krona SGD Singapore dollar THB Baht

Table I(a) — Transmittal and international filing fees (amounts on 1 October 2021, unless otherwise indicated)

RO Transmittal fee1 International filing fee1, 2 (CHF 1,330)

Fee per sheet

over 301, 2, 3 (CHF 15)

E-filing reductions according toSchedule of Fees:

Competent ISA(s)4

Item 4(a)5 (CHF 100)

Item 4(b)6 (CHF 200)

Item 4(c)7 (CHF 300)

AL ALL 9,000 CHF 1,330 15 – – – EP AM AMD 32,000 USD 1,453 16 – – – EP RU AP USD 50

(or eq in local currency) USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 AT EP SE

AT EUR 52 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 EP AU AUD 200 AUD 1,860

(from 1.11.21: 2,019) 21

(23) –

(–) 280

(304) 420

(455) AU KR

AZ AZN 30 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 EP RU BA BAM 50 EUR 1,233 14 – – – EP BG BGN 80 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 EP RU BH BHD 70 USD 1,453 16 – – – AT EP US BN BND 150 BND eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – eq CHF 200 eq CHF 300 AU EP JP KR SG BR BRL8 online: 175

on paper:9 260 BRL eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – eq CHF 200 eq CHF 300 AT BR EP SE US

BW USD 32 USD 1,453 16 – – – EP BY BYN 71.05 USD 1,453 16 – – – EP RU BZ BZD 300 USD 1,453 16 – – – CA EP CA CAD 306 CAD 1,782 20 – 268 402 CA

CH 15 – 200 300 EP CL

CHF 1,330 CLP eq USD10 1,453 eq USD10 16 – eq USD 218 eq USD 328 CL EP ES KR US

CN

CHF 100 CLP eq USD10 130 CNY none CNY eq CHF 1,330

(from 1.12.21: CNY 9,260)

eq CHF 15

(100)

–

(–)

eq CHF 200

(CNY 1,390)

eq CHF 300

(CNY 2,090) CO COP online:419,640

on paper: 503,470 COP eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – eq CHF 200 eq CHF 300

CR USD online: 212 on paper: 289

USD 1,453 16 – 218 328

CN EP11

AT BR CL EP ES KR RU CL EP ES

[continued on next page]


17

Table I(a) — Transmittal and international filing fees [continued] (amounts on 1 October 2021, unless otherwise indicated)

RO Transmittal fee1 International filing fee1, 2

Fee per sheet

over 301, 2, 3


Competent ISA(s)4

Item 4(a)5 Item 4(b)6 Item 4(c)7 CU CUP 2,400 CUP eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – eq CHF 200 eq CHF 300 CY EUR 191 EUR 1,233 14 – – – CZ CZK 1,500 1,233 14 – 185 278 DE EUR 90 1,233 14 – 185 278 DJ USD 100

or eq DJF

EUR EUR USD 1,453 16 – –

(from 3 January 2022: 218)

– (from 3 January 2022: 328)

AT BR CL EP ES RU EP EP XV EP AT EG EP

DK DKK 1,500 DKK 9,170 100 – 1,380 2,070 EP SE XN DO USD 316 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 CL EP ES US DZ DZD None CHF 1,330 15 – 200 300 AT EP EA RUB 1,600 USD 1,453

or EUR 1,233 16 14

– –

218 185

328 278

EP RU

EC USD 300 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 CL EP ES EE EUR 120 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 EP EG USD 142 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 AT EG EP US EP EUR 135 EUR 1,233 14 93 185 278 EP ES EUR 75 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 EP ES FI EUR 135 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 EP FI SE FR EUR 62 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 EP GB GBP 75 GBP 1,028 12 – 155 232 EP GD Information not yet available GE USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 AT EP IL RU US GH

USD12 100 GHS132,500 or 5,000 USD 1,453 16 – – – AT AU CN EP SE

GR EUR 115 EUR 1,233 14 – – – HN USD 200 USD 1,453 16 – – – HR HRK 200 HRK eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – eq CHF 200 eq CHF 300 HU HUF 11,800 HUF 444,200 5,000 – 66,800 100,200 IB CHF14 100

or EUR14 93 or USD14 109

CHF 1,330 or EUR 1,233 or USD 1,453

15 14 16

100 93

109

200 185 218

300 278 328

EP EP ES EP EP XV Refer to footnote 15

ID IDR 1,000,000 IDR eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – eq CHF 200 eq CHF 300 IE 76 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 IL 554 1,453 16 – 218 328 IN

EUR ILS Paper filings: INR 3,50016 INR 17,60017 No fee for e-filings

USD USD 1,453 16 – 218 328

IR IRR 50,000 (natural persons)

IRR 500,000 (legal persons)

IRR eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – eq CHF 200 eq CHF 300

AU EP JP KR RU SG EP EP IL US AT AU CN EP IN JP SE US

CN EP IN RU

IS ISK 18,200 ISK 184,200 2,100 – 27,700 41,600 EP SE XN IT EUR 30.99 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 EP JO JOD 100 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 AT AU EP US JP JPY 10,00018 JPY 153,600 1,700 – – 34,600 EP IN JP SG KE USD 250 or KES 5,000

plus cost of mailing USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 AT AU CN EP SE

KG KGS 4,00019 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 KH KHR 420,000 USD 1,453 16 – – – KN XCD 50 XCD eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – – – KP KPW eq CHF 50 KPW eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – – – KR KRW 45,000 CHF 1,330 15 – – 300

EP RU CN EP JP KR SG EP US AT CN RU AT AU JP20 KR SG

KZ KZT 10,264.80 USD 1,453 16 – – – EP RU LR USD 50 USD 1,453 16 – – – AT AU CN EP SE LS LSL –21 LSL eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – – – AT EP LT EUR 92 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 EP RU XV LU EUR 19 EUR 1,233 14 – – – EP



18

Table I(a) — Transmittal and international filing fees [continued] (amounts on1 October 2021, unless otherwise indicated)


Fee per sheet

over 301, 2, 3


Competent ISA(s)4

Item 4(a)5 Item 4(b)6 Item 4(c)7 LV EUR 70 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 EP RU LY LYD –20 CHF 1,330 15 – – – AT EP MA MAD None CHF 1,330 15 – 200 300 AT EP RU SE MD EUR 100 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 EP RU ME EUR 15 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 EP

MK MKD 2,700 MKD eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – – – MN None CHF 1,330 15 – – –

EP EP KR RU

MT EUR 55 1,233 14 – – – MW MWK 6,000 1,453 16 – – –

EP EP

MX USD 323.7022

EUR USD USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 AT CL EP ES KR SE SG

US

MY MYR 500 (e-filing)23 550 (paper filing)23

MYR eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – eq CHF 200 eq CHF 300 AU EP JP KR

NI USD 200 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 EP ES NL EUR 50 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 EP NO NOK 800 NOK 12,750 140 – 1,920 2,880 EP SE XN NZ NZD 207 NZD 2,025 23 – 305 457 AU EP KR US

OA XAF –20 eq CHF 15 – – – OM OMR 40 eq USD 16 – eq USD 218 eq USD 328 PA USD 240 16 – 218 328 PE PEN 233.35 eq USD 16 – eq USD 218 eq USD 328 PG PGK 250

XAF eq CHF 1,330 OMR eq USD 1,453 USD 1,453 PEN eq USD 1,453 USD 1,453 16 – – –

AT EP RU SE AT AU EG EP US BR CL EP ES US AT BR CL EP ES KR US AU

PH PHP 4,200 16 – 218 328 PL PLN 300 eq CHF 15 – eq CHF 200 eq CHF 300 PT EUR 10.79 (online filing)

EUR 21.58 (paper filing)

USD 1,453 PLN eq CHF 1,330 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278

QA QAR 400 eq USD 16 – eq USD 218 eq USD 328 RO RON 487

QAR eq USD 1,453 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278

AU EP JP KR PH US EP XV EP

EG EP US EP RU

RS RSD 8,21024 EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278 EP XV RU RUB 1,700 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 EP RU

RW Information not yet available

SA USD 100 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 SC USD –20 USD 1,453 16 – – –

CA EG EP KR RU EP

SD SDG 50 SDG eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – eq CHF 200 eq CHF 300 SE SEK 1,200 SEK 12,280 140 – 1,850 2,770

SG SGD 150 1,977 22 – 297 446 SI EUR 91 1,233 14 – 185 278 SK EUR (paper filings)6625

SGD EUR EUR 1,233 14 – 185 278

EG EP EP SE XN AT AU EP JP KR SG EP EP XV

SV None26 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 SY USD –20 USD 1,453 16 – – – TH THB 3,000 THB eq CHF 1,330 eq CHF 15 – – –

TJ TJS –20 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328 TM USD –20 USD 1,453 16 – – –

CL EP ES AT EG EP RU AU CN EP JP KR SG US EP RU EP RU

TN TND 100 CHF 1,330 15 – 200 300 EP TR None CHF 1,330 15 – 200 300 EP TR TT TTD 750 USD 1,453 16 – – – AT CL EP SE US

UA UAH (or eq EUR or USD)27 2,600

USD (or eq UAH or EUR) 1,453 16 – – – EP RU UA

UG UGX – UGX eq USD 1,453 eq USD 16 – eq USD 218 eq USD 328 AT EP SG



19

Table I(a) — Transmittal and international filing fees [continued] (amounts on 1 October 2021, unless otherwise indicated)


Fee per sheet

over 301, 2, 3


Competent ISA(s)4

Item 4(a)5 Item 4(b)6 Item 4(c)7 US USD 26028

small entity29: 13028 micro entity29: 6528

USD 1,453 16 109 218 –

UZ UZS 245,00030 USD 1,453 16 – 218 328

VN VND 300,000 CHF 1,330 15 – 200 300

WS SAT 200 USD 1,453 16 – – (from 31 January 2022: 218)

– (from

31 January 2022: 328)

ZA ZAR 525 ZAR 20,630 230 – 3,100 4,650

AU EP IL JP KR RU SG US

EP RU

AT AU EP JP KR RU SE SG

EP PH

AT AU EP US

ZM USD 50 16 – 218 328 AT SE

ZW ZWD 6,000

USD 1,453

ZWD eq USD 1,453 eq USD 16 – – – AT AU CN EP RU

Table I(b) — Search fees (amounts on 1 October 2021, unless otherwise indicated)

ISA Search fee1 AT31 EUR 1,775 CHF 1,915 KRW 2,422,000 SGD 2,846 USD 2,091 ZAR 30,610

AU AUD 2,200 CHF* 1,573 EUR 1,429 KRW 1,829,000 NZD 2,379 SGD 2,150 USD 1,697 ZAR 23,560 * (from 1.11.21: CHF 1,449)

BR8 Online: BRL 1,685 CHF 306 EUR 285 USD 330 On paper: BRL 2,525 CHF 458 EUR 428 USD 495

CA CAD 1,632 CHF 1,218 EUR 1,060 USD 1,353

CL USD 2,000 CHF 1,831 EUR 1,697 In case of filing by a natural person or a legal entity2: USD 400 CHF 366 EUR 339 In case of filing by a university32: USD 300 CHF 275 EUR 255

CN CNY 2,100 CHF 301 EUR 262 USD 328

EG33 EGP 4,000 CHF 233 EUR 216 USD 254

EP34 EUR 1,775 CHF 1,915 DKK 13,210 GBP 1,526 HUF 639,500 ISK 268,000 JPY 236,100 NOK 17,880 NZD 2,942 SEK 18,610 SGD 2,846 USD 2,091 ZAR 30,610

ES34 EUR 1,775 CHF 1,915 USD 2,091

FI EUR 1,775 CHF 1,915 USD 2,091

IL ILS 3,553 CHF 976 EUR 903 USD 1,107

IN INR 10,000 CHF 125 EUR 116 JPY 14,400 USD 137 In case of filing by an individual: INR 2,500 CHF 31 EUR 29 JPY 3,600 USD 34

JP35 For IAs in Japanese: CHF 606 EUR 526 KRW 714,000 USD 662 JPY 70,000

For IAs in English: JPY 156,000 CHF 1,351 EUR 1,173 SGD 1,906 USD 1,476

KR36 KRW 450,000 AUD 541 CHF 356 EUR 330 NZD* 585 USD 389 (from 1.12.21: NZD 538) KRW 1,200,000 AUD 1,443 CHF 949 EUR 879 NZD* 1,561

For IAs in Korean: SGD 529 For IAs in English: SGD 1,410 USD 1,036 (from 1.12.21: NZD 1,435)

PH 916 EUR 849 USD 1,000 CHF Small entity or government37: USD 400 CHF 366 EUR 339



20

Table I(b) — Search fees [continued] (amounts on 1 October 2021, unless otherwise indicated)

ISA Search fee1 RU RUB 8,500 CHF 106 EUR 98 USD 115 For IAs in Russian:

For IAs in English: RUB 40,000 CHF 498 EUR 459 USD 543

SE SEK 18,610 CHF 1,915 DKK 13,210 EUR 1,775 ISK 268,000 NOK 17,880 USD 2,091

SG SGD 2,240 CHF 1,507 EUR 1,397 JPY 183,400 KRW 1,906,000 USD 1,646

TR TRY 16,250 CHF 1,915 EUR 1,775 USD 2,091

UA EUR 100 CHF 108 USD 118 For IAs in Ukrainian or Russian: For IAs in English, French or German: EUR 300 CHF 324 USD 353

US USD 2,180 CHF 1,996 EUR 1,850 NZD 3,076 ZAR 31,120 For small entity29: USD 1,090 CHF 998 EUR 925 NZD 1,538 ZAR 15,560

For micro entity29: USD 545 CHF 499 EUR 463 NZD 769 ZAR 7,780

XN DKK 13,210 CHF 1,915 EUR 1,775 ISK 268,000 NOK 17,880 SEK 18,610 USD 2,091

XV EUR 1,775 CHF 1,915 HUF 639,500 USD 2,091

Table I(c) — Supplementary search fees (amounts on 1 October 2021, unless otherwise indicated)

ISA Supplementary search fee Supplementary search handling fee2, 38 AT

CHF 917

CHF 1,284

– for a search of German-languagedocumentation:– for a search of Europeanand North American documentation:– for a search of PCT minimumdocumentation: CHF 1,834

CHF 200

EP CHF 1,91534 CHF 200

FI CHF 1,915 CHF 200

RU CHF 147 CHF 23539

CHF 200

SE CHF 1,915 CHF 200

SG CHF 1,507 CHF 200

TR CHF 1,915 – for a full search:– for a search only of documents in Turkishheld in the search collection of the Authority CHF 59

CHF 200

UA

CHF 97

CHF 97

– for a search of the documents in the searchcollection of the Authority, including the PCTminimum documentation:– for a search of only the European andNorth American documentation:– for a search of only the Russian languagedocumentation of the former USSR and theUkrainian language documentation: CHF 76 – for a search where a declaration referred to inPCT Article 17(2)(a) has been made because ofsubject matter referred to in PCT Rule 39.1(iv): CHF 65

CHF 200

XN CHF 1,915 – for a full search:– for searches only of documentation inDanish, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish: CHF 580

CHF 200

XV CHF 1,915 – for a full search:– for searches only of documentation inCzech, Hungarian, Polish and Slovak: CHF 593

CHF 200


21

Table II — Preliminary examination fees (amounts on 1 October 2021, unless otherwise indicated)

IPEA Preliminary examination fee40 Handling fee2, 40(CHF 200) AT EUR 1,74931 EUR 185

AU AUD 590 82041 AUD 280 (from 1.11.21: 304)

BR 6308 Online: BRL On paper: BRL 9458

BRL eq CHF 200

CA CAD 816 CAD 268

CL USD 1,500

in case of filing by a natural person or a legal entity2: USD 400 in case of filing by a university32: USD 300

USD 218

CN CNY 1,500 CNY eq CHF 200 (from 1.12.21: CNY 1,390)

EG EGP 3,000 USD 218

EP EUR 1,83034 EUR 185

ES EUR 589.4834 EUR 185

FI EUR 600 EUR 185

IL ILS 1,523 ILS 745 (from 1.11.21: 704)

IN if ISR prepared by ISA/IN: INR 10,000; in case of filing by individual: INR 2,500 if ISR not prepared by ISA/IN: INR 12,000; in case of filing by individual: INR 3,000

USD 218

JP35 26,000 For IAs in Japanese: JPY For IAs in English: JPY 58,000

JPY 23,100

KR KRW 450,000 KRW 253,000

PH USD 500 Small entity or government:37 USD 200

USD 218

RU RUB 4,50042 6,75043 For IAs in Russian: For IAs in English: RUB 16,00042 24,00043

USD 218

SE SEK 5,000 SEK 1,850

SG SGD 830 SGD 297

TR TRY 1,000 CHF 200

UA If the ISR has been prepared by ISA/UA: EUR 160 EUR 50

EUR 180

– for IAs in English, French or German:– for IAs in Russian or Ukrainian:

If the ISR has been prepared by another ISA:– for IAs in English, French or German:– for IAs in Russian or Ukrainian: EUR 70

EUR 185

US USD 640 80044 For small entity29: USD 320 40044

For micro entity29: USD 160 20044

USD 218

XN DKK 5,000 DKK 1,380

XV EUR 900 EUR 185

[footnotes to fee tables follow]


22

Footnotes to fee tables: 1 Payable to the receiving Office in the currency or one of the currencies prescribed by it. 2 This fee is reduced by 90% where the applicant or, if there are two or more applicants, each applicant fulfills the criteria indicated on the PCT

website at: www.wipo.int/pct/en/fees. Note that the PCT Assembly adopted an Understanding, with effect from 11 October 2017, which clarifies that this fee reduction is intended to apply only in the case where the applicants indicated in the request are the sole and true owners of the application and under no obligation to assign, grant, convey or license the rights in the invention to another party which is not eligible for the fee reduction.

3 Where the IA contains a sequence listing as a separate part of the description, this should preferably be furnished in accordance with Annex C, paragraph 40, of the Administrative Instructions under the PCT, that is, in compliance with WIPO Standard ST.25 text format; no additional fees are due for sequence listings filed in this format. Where, however, such sequence listings are filed in the form of an image file (e.g. PDF), fees are due for each page (refer to PCT Newsletter No. 06/2009, page 2 at: www.wipo.int/pct/en/newslett/2009/newslett_09.pdf).

4 For the search fee payable to the receiving Office, consult the entry in Table I(b) for the competent International Searching Authority. 5 If the IA is filed in electronic form, the request not being in character coded format. 6 If the IA is filed in electronic form, the request being in character coded format. 7 If the IA is filed in electronic form, the request, description, claims and abstract being in character coded format. 8 This fee is reduced by 60% where the IA is filed by a natural person, a small or medium-sized enterprise, a cooperative, an academic institution,

a non-profit-making entity or a public institution. For further details, refer to Official Resolution of the National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil) No. 251 of 2 October 2019.

9 Paper filings are only accepted if received by mail. For further details, refer to the Official Resolution of the National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil) No. 253 of 13 November 2019 (http://revistas.inpi.gov.br/pdf/Comunicados2550.pdf).

10 When calculating the USD equivalent amount in CLP, applicants should use the exchange rate fixed by the Central Bank of Chile on the day before the date of payment.

11 The EPO is available as International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authority as of 1 December 2020 for a duration of two years as a pilot project. For further details, please refer to the EPO’s website at: https://www.epo.org/service-support/faq/own-file/cnipa-epo-pilot.html and to the CNIPA’s website at: https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2020/10/20/art_364_153578.html

12 This fee is reduced by 70% where the applicant is a natural person and by 90% where the applicant is a student or a retiree. 13 The first amount of the transmittal fee is applicable to individuals or entities employing less than 25 persons. The second amount is applicable

to entities employing 25 persons or more. 14 This fee is not payable in respect of IAs filed by applicants fulfilling the conditions indicated on the PCT website at: www.wipo.int/pct/en/fees 15 The competent International Searching Authority(ies) for an IA filed with the International Bureau as receiving Office is (are) the Authority(ies)

which would have been competent if the IA had been filed with the receiving Office of, or acting for, the Contracting State of which the applicant (or any of the applicants) is a resident or national. Refer also to the PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (IB).

16 The fee for paper filings for a natural person or startup or small entity(ies). 17 The fee for paper filings for other(s), alone or with natural person(s) or startup(s) or small entity(ies). 18 This fee is reduced if the application is filed in Japanese by applicants who are eligible for fee reductions, such as small or medium-sized

enterprises, micro enterprises and academic institutions. Further details on eligibility for the fee reduction are available at: www.jpo.go.jp/system/process/tesuryo/genmen/genmen20190401/document/index/leaflet_e.pdf

19 This fee is reduced by 90% if the applicant is an individual. The amount does not include the postage/mailing costs which must be paid by the applicant directly to the express delivery service (e.g. DHL). For non-residents of Kyrgyzstan, the equivalent amount of the fee can be paid in a freely convertible currency, in accordance with the exchange rate established by the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic and applicable on the date of payment.

20 The Japan Patent Office is competent only for IAs filed in Japanese or for which a translation into Japanese has been furnished under PCT Rule 12.3.

21 The amount of this fee is not yet known. The Office should be consulted for the applicable fee amount. 22 This fee is subject to a national tax of 16%. 23 Plus MYR 60 for each sheet in excess of 30 for electronic filings, and MYR 70 for each sheet in excess of 30 for paper filings. 24 This fee is reduced by 50% where the applicant is a natural person. 25 This fee is reduced by 50% for online filings. 26 Although there is no transmittal fee payable, the applicant must nevertheless pay the postage fee for the transmittal of the copy of the

international application to the International Bureau and the International Searching Authority. 27 This fee is reduced by 90% where all applicants are also inventors and by 80% where all applicants are also non-profitable institutions and/or

organizations. When the fee is payable with relation to an application made by both types of applicant, and all applicants are either also inventors, or non-profitable institutions and/or organizations, the fee is reduced by 80%.

28 Plus non-electronic filing fee portion for IAs filed other than by the Office electronic filing system of USD 400, or in the case of filings by small entities or micro entities: USD 200.

29 For further details about entitlement to and establishment of “small entity” status and “micro entity” status, refer to 37 CFR § 1.27 and 1.29 (pages R-41 and R-47), respectively, at: www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/consolidated_rules.pdf

30 Reductions may apply – for further details refer to the Office’s website at: http://ima.uz/ru/regulatory/tarify-i-poshliny/ 31 The fee is reduced by 75% where the applicant, or if there are two or more applicants, each applicant is a natural person and is a national of

and resides in a State for which the Austrian Patent Office is an International Searching Authority (in the case of the search fee)/International Preliminary Examining Authority (in the case of the preliminary examination fee).

32 Applicable where the applicant is (a) a Chilean university, or (b) a foreign university headquartered in any of the States which benefit, in accordance with the Schedule of Fees under the PCT Regulations, from the 90% reduction of the international filing fee and authenticated by its legal representative, in a simple declaration signed in the presence of a notary, as constituted as a university in accordance with the law of that State, provided that, if there are several applicants, each must satisfy the criterion set out in either sub-item (a) or (b)). For details of applicants entitled to the 90% reduction, refer to: www.wipo.int/pct/en/fees

33 The search fee payable to the Office is reduced by 25% where the applicant, or, if there are two or more applicants, each applicant is a natural person or a legal entity and is a national of and resides in a State which is classified by the World Bank in the group of countries of “low income”, “lower middle income” or “upper middle income”.

34 The search and preliminary examination fees payable to the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, and the supplementary search fee in the case of the EPO, are reduced by 75% under certain conditions. For further information, refer to the relevant footnotes in the PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annexes D (EP and ES) and E (EP and ES) at: www.wipo.int/pct/guide/en/index.html

35 This fee is reduced for applications filed in Japanese, or for applications in respect of which a translation into Japanese has been furnished under PCT Rule 12.3, by applicants who are eligible for fee reductions, such as small or medium-sized enterprises, micro enterprises and academic institutions. For further details refer to: https://www.jpo.go.jp/system/process/tesuryo/genmen/genmen20190401/document/index/leaflet_e.pdf

36 This fee is reduced by 75% where the applicant, or if there are two or more applicants, each applicant is a national of, and has a residence or business domicile in, one of the following States: Cambodia, Colombia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Peru, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam.

37 Applicable where the applicant is a small entity which refers to any natural or juridical person whose assets are worth not more than one hundred million pesos (P100M); or any entity, agency, office, bureau or unit of the Philippine government including government-owned or controlled corporations, state universities and colleges and government-owned or government-run schools.

38 Payable to the International Bureau in Swiss francs. 39 This fee applies where a declaration referred to in PCT Article 17(2)(a) has been made by the International Searching Authority because of

subject matter referred to in PCT Rule 39.1(iv) (methods of treatment). 40 Payable to the International Preliminary Examining Authority in the currency or one of the currencies prescribed by it. 41 Payable when the international search report was not issued by the Australian Patent Office. 42 Payable when the international search report was established by the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) (Russian Federation). 43 In all cases where footnote 42 does not apply. 44 Payable when the international search was not carried out by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (provided that the

USPTO is a competent International Preliminary Examining Authority in the particular case—refer to PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (US)).


23

PCT Contracting States and Two-letter Codes (153 on 1 October 2021)

1 Extension of European patent possible.2 May only be designated for a regional patent (the “national route” via the PCT has been closed).3 Italymaybedesignatedforanationalpatentonlyininternationalapplicationsfiledonorafter1July2020.4 Validation of European patent possible.5 Only extension of European patent possible. Applicants wishing to obtain patent protection in Montenegro should enter the regional

phasebeforetheEuropeanPatentOffice(EPO)andseektheextensionoftheEuropeanpatentapplicationandthegrantedEuropeanpatenttoMontenegroasthereisnonationalphasebeforetheIntellectualPropertyOfficeofMontenegro.

Where a State can be designated for a regional patent, the two-letter code for the regional patent concerned is indicated in pa rentheses (AP = ARIPO patent, EA = Eurasian patent, EP = European patent, OA = OAPI patent).Important: This list includes all States that have adhered to the PCT by the date shown in the heading. Any State indicated in bold italics has adhered to the PCT but will only become bound by the PCT on the date shown in parentheses; it will not be considered to have been designatedininternationalapplicationsfiledbeforethatdate.Note that even though the filing of a request constitutes underPCTRule 4.9(a) thedesignation of allContractingStates boundbythePCTonthe internationalfilingdate, for thegrantofeverykindofprotectionavailableand,whereapplicable, for thegrantofbothregional andnational patents, applicants should alwaysuse the latest versionof thee-filing softwareused to generate the requestform, or the latest versions of the request form (PCT/RO/101) and demand form (PCT/IPEA/401) (the latest versions are dated1July2020and1July2019,respectively).Therequestanddemandformscanbeprintedfromthewebsite,ineditablePDFformat,at: https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/forms/,orobtainedfromreceivingOfficesortheInternationalBureau,or,inthecaseofthedemandform,alsofromInternationalPreliminaryExaminingAuthorities.Wherepossible,applicantsareencouragedtouseePCT-Filinginordertobenefitfrom the most up-to-date PCT data.

AE United Arab Emirates

AG AntiguaandBarbudaAL Albania (EP)AM Armenia (EA)AO AngolaAT Austria (EP)AU AustraliaAZ Azerbaijan (EA) BA Bosniaand

Herzegovina1

BB BarbadosBE Belgium(EP)2BF BurkinaFaso(OA)2BG Bulgaria(EP)BH BahrainBJ Benin(OA)2BN BruneiDarussalamBR BrazilBW Botswana(AP)BY Belarus(EA)BZ BelizeCA CanadaCF CentralAfrican

Republic (OA)2

CG Congo (OA)2

CH Switzerland (EP)CI Côte d’Ivoire (OA)2

CL Chile CM Cameroon (OA)2

CN ChinaCO ColombiaCR Costa Rica

CU Cuba CY Cyprus(EP)2CZ Czechia (EP)DE Germany(EP)DJ Djibouti DK Denmark(EP)DM DominicaDO DominicanRepublicDZ AlgeriaEC EcuadorEE Estonia (EP) EG EgyptES Spain (EP)FI Finland(EP)FR France(EP)2GA Gabon (OA)2

GB United Kingdom (EP)GD GrenadaGE GeorgiaGH Ghana (AP) GM Gambia (AP)GN Guinea (OA)2

GQ EquatorialGuinea(OA)2

GR Greece (EP)2

GT GuatemalaGWGuinea-Bissau(OA)2HN HondurasHR Croatia (EP)HU Hungary (EP)ID IndonesiaIE Ireland (EP)2

IL Israel

IN IndiaIR Iran (Islamic

Republic of)IS Iceland (EP) IT Italy (EP)3

JO JordanJP JapanKE Kenya(AP)KG Kyrgyzstan (EA)KH Cambodia4

KM Comoros(OA)2KN SaintKittsandNevisKP DemocraticPeople’s

RepublicofKoreaKR RepublicofKoreaKW Kuwait KZ Kazakhstan(EA)LA LaoPeople’sDemo-

cratic RepublicLC Saint LuciaLI Liechtenstein (EP)LK SriLankaLR Liberia (AP)LS Lesotho (AP)LT Lithuania (EP)2

LU Luxembourg (EP)LV Latvia (EP)2

LY LibyaMA Morocco4

MC Monaco (EP)2

MD Republic of Moldova4

ME Montenegro5

MG Madagascar

MK NorthMacedonia(EP)

ML Mali (OA)2

MN MongoliaMR Mauritania (OA)2

MT Malta (EP)2

MW Malawi (AP)MX Mexico MY MalaysiaMZ Mozambique(AP)NA Namibia (AP)NE Niger (OA)2

NG Nigeria NI NicaraguaNL Netherlands (EP)2

NO Norway (EP)NZ New ZealandOM Oman PA PanamaPE PeruPG Papua New Guinea PH Philippines PL Poland (EP)PT Portugal (EP)QA Qatar RO Romania (EP)RS Serbia (EP)RU Russian

Federation (EA)RW Rwanda (AP)SA Saudi ArabiaSC Seychelles SD Sudan(AP)SE Sweden (EP)

SG SingaporeSI Slovenia (EP)2

SK Slovakia(EP)SL Sierra Leone (AP)SM San Marino (EP)2

SN Senegal (OA)2

ST Sao Tome and Principe (AP)

SV El SalvadorSY SyrianArabRepublicSZ Eswatini (AP)2

TD Chad(OA)2TG Togo (OA)2

TH ThailandTJ Tajikistan(EA)TM Turkmenistan(EA)TN Tunisia4

TR Turkey(EP)TT Trinidad and TobagoTZ United Republic of

Tanzania (AP)UA UkraineUG Uganda (AP)US United States of

AmericaUZ UzbekistanVC Saint Vincent and the

GrenadinesVN Viet NamWS SamoaZA South AfricaZM Zambia (AP) ZW Zimbabwe (AP)

assembly of the pct union

Documents